GLOSSARY OF SOCIAL WORK TERMS

1. Best Practices: Engaging in practice activities that are based on research

and intended to increase successful outcomes.
2. Case Management: A method for coordinating services in which a worker
assesses with a client what services are needed and obtains and monitors
the delivery of the services.
3. Client Outcomes: Qualitative and quantitative measurements aimed at
determining if client goals have been met.
4. Clinical Social Work: The professional application of social work theory and
methods to the treatment and prevention of psychological dysfunction,
disability, or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders.
5. Code of Ethics: Explicit statement of values, principles, and rules of
profession, regulating the conduct of its members.
6. Competencies: A set of professional obligations to the client, community,
society, and the profession acquired through the combination of
certification, licensure, continuing education, and supervision.
7. Evidence-based practice: The use of the best scientific knowledge derived
from outcome studies as the basis for guiding professional interventions
and effective treatments.
8. Family support services/family preservation: Planned efforts to provide
the knowledge, resources, supports, health care, relationship skills, and
structures that help families stay intact and maintain their mutual roles and
responsibilities.
9. Field education or practicum: A required part of a formal social work
education program consisting of practice in a community setting under a
field supervisor (also called practice teacher).
10.Home-based services (or in-home services): Services provided within the
client’s home and community rather a social work or social welfare office
setting.
11.Indicators: Quantitative measures about demographic, environmental, and
social conditions that are used in establishing comprehensive and balanced
planning.
12.Practice teachers: This is a term that refers to the person that provides the
supervision for students in field placement or practicum settings.
13.Professional education/continuing education: training taken by social
workers and other professionals who have already completed the formal
education required to enter their field.
14.Restorative justice: A theory of justice that emphasizes the repairing of
harm caused or revealed by criminal behavior. It is accomplished by victim-
offender mediation, victim assistance, restitution and community service.
15.l assistance: The provision of benefits financed from a nation’s general
revenue and subject to the recipient’s need and means.
16.Social Justice: An ideal condition in which all members of a society have the
same basic rights, protections, opportunities, obligations, and social
benefits.
17.Social Work practice: Professional application of social work values,
principles, and techniques to one or more of the following ends: helping
people obtain concrete services; counseling and psychotherapy with
individuals, families, and groups; helping communities or groups provide or
improve social and health services; and participating in legislative
processes.
18.Standards of practice: Specific guidelines for practice in a variety of settings
that guide social work practice, inform consumers, and help maintain and
improve the quality of services provided.
19.Supervision: An administrative and educational process used to help social
workers further develop and refine their skills, enhance staff morale, and
provide quality assurance to the clients.
20.User involvement: Participation of clients (referred to as users or
consumers) of human services agencies in the planning and decision-
making of client interventions, program planning and policy formulation.
Services are provided in such a way to engage and empower clients and
build as much family and client involvement as possible.

Definitions are adapted from Barker, R. L. (2003). Social Work Dictionary. (5th Ed.). Washington,
DC: NASW Press. And Johnson, L. C. & Yanca, S. J. (2007). Social Work Practice: A Generalist
Approach (9th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.